If you ever wondered what it feels like to walk on the clouds then you should visit the Salar de Uyuni.
Located in the southwest corner of Bolivia, the Salar de Uyuni is a blindingly white salt flat, which stretches for more than 4,500 square miles.
To be fair, at an elevation of nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, in theory you could be walking above the clouds and it comes as no surprise that this stunning ethereal landscape has been dubbed by some as ‘heaven on earth’.
- The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
- The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
- The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
- The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
- The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia
The Salar de Uyuni (of the salt flats of Uyuni in English) is an otherworldly place. Here the sky and ground seem to merge into one to create a dreamy panorama, where everything plays tricks on your eyes and the whole landscape becomes an optical illusion.
For half of the year you can drive across the white hexagonal tiles of salt that seem to go on forever and ever, and for the other half of the year the Salar becomes a giant puddle where the reflection of the sky and clouds make it look like the world’s biggest mirror.
In my triptych painting of the Salar de Uyuni, I wanted to capture the many different colours that you seem to see as you gaze at this hazy landscape. I used acrylic paint so I could put multiple layers of colour, then at the end added the titanium white with a palette knife.
- Abstract Salar Salt Flats 01 – Bolivia
- Salar triptych 2
- Salar triptych 3
Here a few sketches of the Salar de Uyuni and the Atacama Desert from my sketchbook done in chalk pastel.
- Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia from my South American Sketchbook
- Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia from my South American Sketchbook
- Salar de Uyuni and Atacama desert in Bolivia from my South American Sketchbook
- Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia from my South American Sketchbook
Some photos from the Salar and in the Atacama Desert.
- Stone tower in the Atacama desert in Bolivia
- Wing-mirror selfie in the Atacama Desert, Bolivia
- The Atacama desert in Bolivia
- Flamingos in the Atacama desert in Bolivia
- Ali at the Salar salt flats in Bolivia
- Rock formation in the Atacama desert in Bolivia
- Ali in the Atacama desert, on the border between Bolivia and Chile
- The Atacama desert in Bolivia
- Llamas in the Atacama desert in Bolivia
Leya January 31, 2018
Gorgeous – would love to visit.
Ali Dunnell February 1, 2018
It really is like another world Leya 🙂
Leya February 1, 2018
Yes!
Ann Curran January 31, 2018
Stunning landscape, but love your representations.
Ali Dunnell February 1, 2018
Thank you Ann 🙂
thewonderer86 February 1, 2018
Love it!
Ali Dunnell February 1, 2018
🙂
uma197 February 3, 2018
I would have never picked to go to Bolivia now its going on my bucket list
Ali Dunnell February 12, 2018
It is such a beautiful country in so many ways – I hope you make it there one day 🙂
uma197 February 12, 2018
Yes me too. Looks stunning
Kaylene Chadwell February 3, 2018
Wow, your paintings and sketches are amazing! So beautiful!
Ali Dunnell February 12, 2018
Thanks so much Kaylene 🙂
Bubu Backpacks February 3, 2018
Wow this place is beautiful and your photos are incredible! I’d love to visit someday 🙂
Ali Dunnell February 8, 2018
Thanks 🙂
Asif Shaikh March 9, 2018
I was not aware of Salar de Uyuni and now am completely captivated by this beautiful place. I will definitely add this to my subject list and try to get the art done around it.
Thanks for sharing Ali!
Ali Dunnell March 12, 2018
Great – I hope you get there one day 🙂
denizdikmenblue May 30, 2018
Really Nice – it reminds me of my trip to Nemrut where I took a horse ( muli ) to get up the site – it was like riding on the clouds -so beautiful – you cant describe it !
alidunnell May 30, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks for visiting my site and the positive comments. I loved Uyuni so much, it was a really magical experience 🙂
DinaD August 4, 2018
Oh this is absolutely stunning! A bucket list place that I hope to see! beautiful artwork too, you should submit to a gallery 🙂
alidunnell August 6, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks so much Dina – That’s exactly what I am hoping into do… and positive feedback is exactly the incentive I need to continue with my art 🙂
Anisa August 5, 2018
I love your paintings! I have never been to a salt flat and it looks really interesting. I didn’t realize the ones in Bolivia where at such a high altitude
alidunnell August 6, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks so much – they really are an amazing site 🙂
Neeti September 7, 2018
Wow, your paintings and sketches are looks stunning!
Thanks for sharing.
alidunnell September 15, 2018 — Post Author
Thank you
Indain Art zone November 14, 2018
paintings are really classy and smootthy
alidunnell December 8, 2018 — Post Author
Thanks so much 🙂
art lover April 13, 2019
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ArtZone August 3, 2019
Beautiful place and pictures are also very nice, never knew about this place. Thanks for sharing
alidunnell August 7, 2019 — Post Author
If you ever get a chance to go, do it… it really is an amazing place to see 🙂
ArtZone August 6, 2019
beautiful pictures, in love with those texture and colors. thanks for sharing
alidunnell August 7, 2019 — Post Author
Thanks so much – it really was such a magical place 🙂
rajan maaluja February 10, 2021
Hello, I am Rajan Maaluja. I am emerging artist who specializes in creating beautiful paintings. Recently I created my own website and I want to promote it. So I am Sharing my website. Please share with Everyone. Thank You!
Rajan Maaluja Art
alidunnell March 5, 2021 — Post Author
thanks for sharing